Writing Tips, Harry Potter Style

Seriously, that is a major pet peeve of mine.

“Alright” is not a word. “All right” is how you spell it.

These words are often confused. “bated” vs. “baited”

“Baited” refers to bait.

Status report: 2014-01-19

On a Mission from God:
Writing various scenes for the remaining chapters. Working on the sequel.

The Further Adventures of Spacetime Sirius:
This is the sequel. Working on the first chapter.

Cave of Second Chances:
Outlining first timeline (up to the time travel event).

Other:
Various other background projects.

Writing tip: bated breath vs. baited breath

Ever have trouble remembering the difference between baited and bated?

Crookshanks ate some cheese then waited for Scabbers with baited breath.

Well, could he?

After all, he is a Parselmouth.

After all, he is a Parselmouth.

Prologues

I recently read this article about using prologues. It was very helpful.

Here’s what I said in response, just in case anyone cares:

 

Personally, I always read the prologue. I agree that if one cannot pull off a decent prologue, one should not use the device. If a prologue and first couple of chapters can’t grab my attention, then I will back out of the story. I don’t understand the bias against the device, though. Yes, there are plenty of bad examples of prologues, but it’s a perfectly useful device in the proper hands. To refuse to read them ALL doesn’t make sense to me.

Regarding the prologue/first chapter of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone: I think it’s a case of semantics. It is essentially a prologue, even in JK Rowling declined to call it such. A rose by any other name would still smell as sweet. A well-written prologue will work no matter whether you call it a prologue or a chapter. By the same token, a poorly-written example will fail, regardless or what it is called.

Info dumps should be folded into the story when possible. Alternatively, a separate information section would suffice. Since I read mostly science fiction and fantasy, I am quite used to books containing “Dramatis Personae” listings as well as maps, glossaries, timelines, family trees, and other useful extras. JRR Tolkien, Anne McCaffrey, Larry Niven, and a host of other well-loved authors use such sections to great effect. Of course, these days, the author can place much of the supporting information online, as JK Rowling has done.

Regarding the aforementioned subject of fanfiction: Theodore Sturgeon once observed that “ninety percent of everything is crap. ” While that assessment may be incredibly generous where fanfiction is concerned, I still feel obliged to defend it. I read fanfiction for many reasons, one of which is that it is free. Of course, I do get exactly what I pay for in that scenario. That being said, I have found a few jewels of creativity, even if they are encased in the rock of poor writing skills.

I should also mention that I write fanfiction. I bear no illusions that I will ever become good enough in my writing to do so professionally. The market is quite oversaturated these days and I don’t have the time to properly develop my skills. Writing fanfiction gives me an outlet for my creativity and the chance to perhaps improve in my ability along the way. If I give enjoyment to a few readers along the way, so much the better.

The author was kind enough to respond, as well.

Story Pages Updated

The “My Stories” page has been updated to reflect my two completed stories and two in-progress stories. Each story now has its own sub-page.

“On a Mission from God” has two chapters remaining before it is complete.

“Cave of Second Chances” has just begun and will be running for a while. I don’t have a master plan on the number of chapters and my chapters aren’t long so far, but this is my first long story. It’s a time travel story. In the original timeline Draco befirends Harry, but it is a deception. After Voldemort returns in Harry’s second year, war erupts. Eventually, Harry discovers a means to relive his life. I’m trying to make it different from the other time travel stories I’ve read.

In Progress: 4/14/2013

I just published A Squirrelly Thing Happened on the Way to the Burrow.

My current project is a soul bond fic with sci-fi leanings. Expect tongue-in-cheek references to various sci-fi movies.

Update:
That one is still in progress and quite stalled. Other stories have been posted in the meantime.

Animagus fic nearly complete

I’m nearing completion on my first HP fanfic. I started it for the Animagus Challenge on SIYE, but slow writing + real life = taking longer than I anticipated. I missed the challenge deadline, but I’m finishing it anyways. Once it is completed and posted, I will add a link to the story on my FF and SIYE accounts. I will also post any notes I have regarding story development. (I plan to do this for every story I post.)

Update:
Yeah, I completed this one ages ago.

 

 

I have ideas… IDEAS!

I have ideas… IDEAS!

I intend to do something with them.

I need to do some population control on these plot bunnies breeding in my brain.